Page 17 of Noel Secrets

Chapter Five

The dining car smelled like bacon, coffee, and cinnamon rolls—comforting scents that should have wrapped the morning in coziness, except Jayda’s nerves were still frayed from the night before. She slid into her seat at the long table Ginny had claimed for the entire family, grateful for the steaming mug of coffee already waiting for her.

Ginny was in full hostess mode, her curls bouncing as she made sure everyone had plates. “Eat up, everyone,” she sang out. “Big day ahead! We’ll be rolling into Chicago tonight, and I have fantastic plans.”

Jayda forced a smile, though she wasn’t sure she could stomach much. Sleep had come in fits and starts, taunted by the memory of the man in her cabin, his hands grasping, his breathing a hiss in her ear before Michael had appeared and scared him off. The liquid in her mug jostled from her trembling hand, and she put it down. She couldn’t let her fear show.

The twins were chattering at a speed only they could understand, piling scrambled eggs onto their plates like they were in some kind of eating competition. Uncle Henry sat beside them, already resigned to cleaning up spilled juice. Across from Jayda, Aunt Caroline adjusted her scarf and cleared her throat.

“Simon will be down later,” she said with a prim smile. “You know he’s always been a late riser.”

Michael, sitting too close to Jayda on her left, gave a low scoff into his coffee.

Jayda’s head snapped toward him, eyes narrowing. “Knock it off,” she muttered under her breath.

Michael arched a brow at her, feigning innocence.

She raised her voice enough for everyone at the table to hear. “Simon was wonderful with the boys last night. When they were scared, he calmed them down, made them laugh. He deserves a little extra sleep.”

Caroline gave Jayda a grateful smile, though Michael’s eyes rolled so hard she thought they might stick in the back of his head.

Jayda ignored him and stabbed at her eggs, pretending her pulse wasn’t racing from the tension between them. Why did he care so much about what she said about Simon anyway?

Conversation rolled on about Chicago—shopping, sightseeing, and the layover they would have there. Jayda tried to focus on her plate, but then she felt Michael lean in, his voice pitched low just for her.

“Who is Veronica Carlisle?”

Her fork froze midair. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he said, his eyes fixed straight ahead, not even looking at her. His hand brushed under the table, sliding something small and folded into her lap.

Her fingers curled around it instinctively, hiding the paper in her palm.

“What is this?” she whispered.

“Something your visitor left behind last night,” Michael murmured. His jaw was tight, his expression calm for the family’s sake. “It’s a list. You’re on it. You and Veronica arethe only two still breathing.” He finally glanced at her, his gaze sharp. “For now.”

Before Jayda could respond, Ginny clapped her hands. “All right, everyone! Tonight, during our stop in Chicago, we’re going to the Santa’s Village Christmas Dinner! They’re setting up an entire North Pole experience in the hotel ballroom. Santa, reindeer, the works. And every single one of you must attend. I’ve also booked a room for everyone to relax and freshen up.”

The twins erupted into cheers, shouting, “Santa!” They bounced in their seats.

Caroline reached for her tea, saying, “Simon will be there, of course. He wouldn’t miss it.”

Jayda forced another smile, but her grip tightened on the folded paper in her lap.

Ginny beamed at the boys. “Christmas is only a week and a half away, and I want us to savor every moment together. Which brings me to my next surprise.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a stack of wrapped boxes, small and square, decorated in festive paper. “Every morning, I’ll give each of you a gift. But you mustn’t be late for breakfast—this is when I’ll hand out the holiday orders for the day’s festivities.”

The twins nearly fell out of their chairs with excitement, clawing at their boxes.

Jayda mustered a laugh, even as dread curled low in her stomach.

“I need to study, Ginny,” she reminded gently. “My tests don’t go away just because it’s Christmas.”

“Then Michael will help you,” Ginny declared without hesitation. “That’s settled.”

Michael looked smug. “Happy to.”

Jayda opened her mouth to protest, but before she could, a smooth voice slipped in behind her.